Russian fighter jets intercept US aircraft over Syria as tensions mount

Tensions between the US and Russia are escalating as US Central Command released high-quality, infrared videos on Wednesday that appear to show Russian fighter jets intercepting American jets flying over Syria. This reportedly happened on two different occasions.

The videos reveal views of a Russian Su-35 intercepting an American craft. This happened just a month after General Michael Kurilla of Central Command said that this is just more evidence that Russia has become more aggressive recently, as the Ukrainian conflict grinds forward, according to the Daily Mail.

Kurilla shared with the Senate on March 16 that his team has “seen a significant spike since about March 1 in Syria." However, this is not the first time Kurilla has alluded to the possibility of the Ukrainian conflict spilling over into Syria, per the report.

Kurilla drew attention to US suggestions that Russia intercepted a US drone last month that was flying over the Black Sea. The US Air Force has also noted that Russian aircrafts have flown directly over Coalition-held areas in Syria 26 times between March 1 and April 19.

The Drive reported: “On April 18, 2023, U.S. Air Force fighter aircraft took off from air bases in the region and intercepted the Russian fighter. During the intercept, the Russian pilot maneuvered unprofessionally within 2,000 feet of U.S. aircraft, violating standing deconfliction protocols."

There is currently no additional information about the nature of the violation of the deconfliction protocols. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently visited Moscow-controlled Ukraine, hoping to hear an update from the military commanders there. This comes as Ukraine has been equipped with the Patriot air defense system, allowing the country to shoot down planes and ballistic missiles that may come their way. The three countries who helped bring this about were the US, Germany, and the Netherlands.